"I like to explain that it's my Jaws. Spawn doesn't say a word the entire movie, and it's the same way with Jaws. It's about the sheriff and the people, chasing the ghost," he told AZCentral. "That's it... The lead role isn’t Spawn, the lead role is a cop, like Sheriff Brody from Jaws. I think we can hook a fairly significant actor that we want. Unlike a superhero movie, we wouldn't need an actor to put on prosthetic [makeup] or go to the gym. We just need him to act."

McFarlane emphasized that the movie will focus on "true trauma" as he gears up to make it much darker than the 1997 film starring Michael Jai White and the subsequent mature-audience animated series on HBO. "We just signed off on the script, and are going into budgeting. We're also having our casting meeting... It will be dark and heavy, serious, R-rated. It won't be a superhero movie," he explained. "I don't think most people would categorize it as that. It will be a supernatural thriller, like a lot of good creep movies."

Blumhouse Productions will produce Spawn, which tells the story of former CIA operative Al Simmons, who strikes a deal with the devil to return to Earth and avenge his death. McFarlane will write and direct. No cast or release date has yet been announced.